Montgomery man arrested in festival slaying

Billy Mau

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, October 17, 2004

Brent Noland, 19, is in the custody of the Grimes County Sheriff's Department after being arrested Sunday morning for the alleged murder of Brandon Smith, 23, a south Montgomery County resident, according to Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell.

The stabbing happened in the parking lot of the Texas Renaissance Festival at approximately 7:45 p.m., according to Grimes County Sheriff's Department records. Smith and his sister Kristin Smith were both on leave from the U.S. Navy and attending the festival as part of their vacation. The Sheriff's report alleges that Kristin Smith got into an argument with a female that was with one other female and five males. During the altercation, Brandon Smith was allegedly attacked by two, possibly more, of the males including Noland. Smith was stabbed 19 times and later died at Conroe Regional Medical Center.

Witness statements lead deputies to the residence of one of Noland's acquaintances, according to the Sheriff's report. Deputies found a witness there who stated that he had cleaned blood off of Noland's folding knife and that he believed Noland had stabbed Smith.

The deputies then went to Noland's residence where they found a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle witnesses saw leaving the scene of the stabbing.

Noland later turned himself in to the Grimes County Sheriff's office, said Sowell.

Sowell said that no motive has been established.

"We're trying to find out why this happened," Sowell said. "We are investigating how an argument ended in this tragedy."

Sowell said investigators are still trying to locate the others in Noland's group that may have been involved in Smith's death.

Smith's family could not be reached and their identities and addresses are being withheld by the Grimes County Sheriff's Department at the family's request.

A representative at the Texas Renaissance Festival said that the festival is not releasing any statements or comments on the stabbing until the Sheriff's investigation is completed.

Sowell said the incident is unprecedented for the festival.

"The Renaissance Festival has had more of a trend of attracting families in recent years," Sowell said. "We haven't had any major trouble out there at all."